Scott Dunlap's blog of trail running, ultrarunning, triathlon, and other life adventures. I enjoy the physical, emotional, and spiritual journey of outdoor events and the chance to meet cool people. This blog contains interviews, research, original fiction, new product ideas, and all things trail running.

Monday, January 09, 2012

Planning My 2012 Season

Ah...it's that glorious time of year to pick out anchor races for the season!
The calendar sits before us overflowing with potential for adventure, new friends, and soon-to-be-stories to tell, and all we have to do is choose a path. Few things lift my spirits as much as this annual ritual (see '06, '07, '08, '10, '11). A full calendar of endurance events continues to be the best proof I am choosing to live IN the world instead of ON it.

I was very pleased with my 2011 season, particularly since my "life event" calendar was jam-packed. Baby Quinn arrived (now 10 months old!), as did Ace the Pug, and 5-year-old Sophie Jane is growing up faster than ever now as a kindergartener. My career enjoyed a Silicon Valley hyperspeed tour through unemployment, entrepreneurship, and now a big company job that is surprisingly fun, with a few scares of relocation thrown in for good measure. It used to be that my "life" was fairly predictable, and I looked to outdoor endurance events to inject adventure. Now it seems my race calendar is the rock while my life is in perpetual whirlwind. Either way, I am blessed that all parts of my life feed my soul with new experiences.

So, how to create a calendar of events that will continue to inspire and challenge? Which experiences in the previous year filled my soul the most and where do I need a change? Is this a year to tackle championship events and PR's like 2010, or an exploratory year like 2009? Should I mix in some tri's and cycling events, or just focus on running? Can I even get IN any of the events I want to do? And how can those events keep the blog fresh and interesting?

San Francisco Kaiser Half Marathon, 2/5 - Home of my half marathon PR (1:16:48, 2010), and a good speed check before my first 'A' race. I'll be coming off a crazy five country trip from work just hours before, but what can you do? Maybe jet lag is the secret ingredient to going fast.

Austin Marathon, 2/19 - My first 'A' race for the year will be to head to Austin, one my favorite cities, in hopes for a fast road marathon, some good beer and queso, and sampling the sounds of Sixth Street with friends. I wasn't able to get close to my marathon PR this year (2:45, 2009), but consistently ran in the 2:50 range, so I'm going to ramp up the speedwork and see if I can't lower my marathon PR a few minutes. Perhaps I can tap my inner Jean Pommier and continue to get faster through my 40's - he clocked a 5:43 at the Last Chance 50m at age 48!

Way Too Cool 50k, 3/5 - One of the biggest and fastest 50k's around, and the first of the "Spring Classics" that lead up to the June/July ultra peak season. I look forward to seeing the backs of heads of many fast people as I return to Cool, CA, and try the revamped course. I find it very helpful (and humbling) to have my ass handed to me by faster people early in the season (that means you, Gary Gellin) to remind me why I need to go deep in the pain cave on regular speedwork days. WTC can be an early season smack down.

Boston Marathon, 4/16 - I'm continuing my streak (this will be #8!) and joining that party from Hopkinton to Boston once again. I never seem to get tired of this one, especially when meeting all the first-time Boston runners who worked so hard to get there. No plans to run with anyone in particular, so let me know if you'll be there!

Providian Relay, 5/5 - A team relay is something I've never tried, and the 199-mile Providian Relay from Calistoga, CA, to Santa Cruz, CA, is one of the best. I've joined up with a team of fellow PayPal colleagues who run the gamut of experience levels, and suspect it will be a great bonding experience. I offered to take miles 100 through 150 so everyone can get some sleep, but apparently that defeats the "relay" concept. ;-) Still, it should be a blast!

Auburn Century, 6/3 - No Western States for me this year, but I can get 100+ miles in the golden hills of Auburn, CA, by tackling the super century cycling event. Much of the course uses the access roads a crew would use for States, which I know are gorgeous and steep. Plus how cool is the shwag? Gotta get that jersey for sure. I'm hoping my usual clan of cycling dudes will be able to join in for a Gentleman's Weekend.

Black Hills 100m, 6/23 - The good folks of South Dakota have invited me out for the second running of the Black Hills 100 in Sturgis, SD, and it looks like a beautiful race that could become a welcome alternative for the masses who don't get into States. I don't consider myself a competitive 100-miler by any stretch of the imagination, but few things get me out of bed to train like having a hundy on the calendar. Christi and I have fond memories of our last trip to South Dakota, and would love to show our kids Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands (maybe finally update my pic atop my blog?), buffalo, Deadwood, Devil's Tower, and...oh, yeah, fit in a 100-mile out-and-back with 18,000 ft of climbing. Can't wait!

Tahoe Rim Trail 50k, 7/21 - One of the most gorgeous trails around, and a race I long for every year. Signed up for the 50k, but may go longer if needed for my next big race.

Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc, 8/31 -Yup, I'm heading to the big showdown in Europe! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the two sunrise experience at the Wasatch 100m, and find myself yearning for another mountainous multi-morning adventure. Work is going to take me to Europe right about this time, so why not stick around for a 63,000' vertical, 100+ mile, three country tour? This will easily be the toughest race of my running career. I'm super stoked!

CIM Marathon, 12/2 - I'm unsure how much recovery will be required for UTMB, so my schedule is fairly open until CIM in December. I've still never done this flat and fast road race - curious to check it out.

Woodside 50k, 12/15 - No better way to cap off a season than a jaunt in my own backyard. Looking forward to sharing my home trails with all of you!

No tri's on the schedule this year, although I'm keeping options open. I just didn't see any that were a "must do" that fit the calendar. Like most years, I will pepper this schedule with other local races as time permits. In 2011, I had a great time tackling the local marathon circuit with last minute entries (San Francisco, Oakland, Half Moon Bay, Napa, San Jose), Bay to Breakers, and a couple of local 50k's. We are blessed to have so many options in the Bay Area.

Let me know if you're going to be at any of these races, and I'll be sure to get your picture for the blog! Great pictures will likely be the most important yardstick for success for 2012.

28 comments:

I'll also be at Way Too Cool, and probably saw you very briefly (as you zoomed past along the Skyline ridge) at the Coastal Crystal Springs race on Saturday (I did the Marathon). You've got a heck of a year planned!

What an awesome calendar for the year! I particularly want to do that century in Auburn. Have you ever run the Palo Duro Trail Run in Palo Duro Canyon (just south of Amarillo, TX)? If not then you should! It's in October. The longest distance available is a 50 miler. Excellent event!

Hi Scott!! Hey! Thanks for taking my pics at the crystal springs 11 miler race! I was the girl in a bright orange long sleeve shirt with shorts! I was dying when I first saw you but seeing a familiar face lifted my spirits!! Thanks for being out there! Oh. Is there a way for you to email me those pic? Thank you!!!

I'm doing the memorial run, CIM, and volunteering at WTC50k! I can't believe you are doing the auburn century!! I've thought about it but I don't think my biking can get to that level by June. Your schedule looks amazing!

My, I am going to see you more than I can handle! When coming to Austin, email me, we can hobble around. I may even figure out my injury by then enough to make a full struggle 26. Then, the BH100, and Tahoe (please take your camera again for the small loop where you'll catch me!). It is certainly fun to plan, and glad the job thing worked out for the best. You know, you do have a big family to feed!

What a wonderful (and ambitious) 2012 adventure schedule for you, Scott. I wish you and your family the best. Perhaps I will see you at Huddart sometime--I love that place...and I really am jealous that you can walk right out your drive onto the trails there....BTW, great job on covering the PCTR/ITR saga in a prev post--well-written. .....and the comments.....quite an education. Coming from out-of-state, I fortunately picked up on some of the early signs of the problems in 2010 and, thus, avoided becoming a victim in 2011. Good luck with the "team" representation.Finally, if you could possibly share what camera you now use that shoots "in the raw" and if you like it, I'd really appreciate it. I have an older Nikon D70S that I may want to swap out for a newer model.Thanks for all of your efforts, Scott. As Todd, above, exclaimed, you really are an inspiration. All the best, Ann

Scott, love reading your blog and will look forward to seeing you at the Black Hills 100. It'll be my first time for this race, but - from two experiences at Lean Horse at bit south - know that Jerry Dunn & Co. will deliver a great race experience for all. Keep writing! Mark

Great schedule. Last time I posted on your blog was in 2009 asking about 50k vs 50m for a first ultra. After 2 50ks I was at Tahoe for my first 50m in 2010 and was sorry to have missed you. If you haven't gone past 50k there and you can stretch it this year I recommend it -- the scenery past red house loop, not to mention the climb from Diamond Peak, are well worth it. Best of luck in 2012!

Scott, best wishes with your busy season and I sincerely hope you stay out of the mudders. If there's a more perverse concept---as far as where we the humans want to be vs. the nature, and as far as what user fees enable the corporation to do---it must be an oil company. For a zero-natural-impact challenge (according to peer-reviewed studies), check out your local orienteering club's events, adventure races and adventure runs!

You're going to UTMB??? AWESOME!! That is so, so cool, Scott. I'm super stoked for you!I'll definitely be seeing you this year. (It's been a while!) Memorial run, WTC, and TRT.Good luck with all your training. Have fun, and we'll see you out there!

Scott, busy racing, travel, work and family schedules, you surely have the perfect ingredients for great performances in your 40s! ;-) All the best for yet another amazing season and UTMB especially (let me know if you want a few tips).See you at least at Way Too Cool then!

About Me

I'm a technology entrepreneur who took up trail running and triathloning back in 2001 to get off the work treadmill and see a bit more of the outdoors. I also love to eat, so the exercise helps me justify those extra helpings. ;oP I'm always interested in learning more about trail running - please comment and link away!

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